# What’s the Best Skirt Steak Substitute?

URL: https://tastessence.com/substitutes/skirt-steak-substitute
Category: Substitutes
Published: 2020-11-09T20:34:28
Updated: 2026-08-10T00:08:48
Image: https://tastessence.com/_astro/skirt-steak-substitute.C3ypm3NF_Z25xqqF.webp
**As a popular cut of beef that’s relatively thin and long,** chefs often use skirt steak in recipes like carne asada and chimichurri. If you can’t find this cut at your local grocery store, however, there are **a few good alternatives that you can use as a skirt steak substitute.** In hopes of preventing you from aimlessly wandering the supermarket looking for a skirt steak substitute, **we’ve hand-picked some of the best cuts of meat that you can use in its place.** Even if your butcher is out of skirt steak, you should be able to use one of these options in its place.

## What is skirt steak?

As we mentioned, **[skirt steak](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cook_skirt_steak/) is a long cut of meat that almost appears as if it has been pounded flat.** It comes from the diaphragm section of the cow, just under its ribs. When you look at a piece of skirt steak, you’ll **notice the grain running across the width of it.** Skirt steak is **best cooked in a hot skillet or cast iron pan** [with butter or olive oil](https://tastessence.com/substitutes/substitute-olive-oil-for-butter) to get the right amount of sear. **It can get tough if cooked for too long, so it’s best to grill it to medium** at the highest.

## What can you use as a skirt steak substitute?

With that said, there’s **no need to panic if you can’t find a decent cut of skirt steak for your fajitas or bulgogi recipe**. Any of the following cuts of meat should serve as an easy swap (although the **preparation method may be slightly different**).

### Flank steak

Skirt steak and flank steak look quite similar. **They’re both long and flat, with a distinct grain running across each cut.** However, the cut on flank steak runs opposite to the one on skirt steak. **Prepare your flank steak as you would skirt steak.** If possible, try marinating it in flavorful liquid prior to cooking. You can easily use it as a skirt steak substitute, whether you’re **grilling it on its own or using it in a recipe.**

### Flat iron steak

**Taken from the shoulder (or chuck) of the animal**, flat iron steak is another readily available alternative to skirt steak. It’s **thicker and more marbled** than flank and skirt steak, which gives it a true meaty taste. When using it in place of skirt steak, sear it **quickly on high heat at first.** Then heat it through on a lower temperature. As a skirt steak replacement, flat iron steak **tastes great thinly sliced in tacos.**

### Flap steak

If you’re **trying to achieve the delicious taste of steak on a budget**, you might want to try flap steak. It’s a **more affordable alternative to skirt steak** and the other options we’ve listed so far. Flap steak is quite thin, which makes it a great replacement for skirt steak since you can **grill it to eat as a main dish or slice it up for use in various [Mexican-inspired meals](https://tastessence.com/substitutes/mexican-desserts).** These days, skirt steak is a popular style of meat in the United States. As a result, **you might have trouble finding it in stock at your nearest supermarket.** If that’s the case, you can rest assured that any of these substitute options will work just as well. For more cooking tips and ideas, [**check out the Tastessence blog.**](https://tastessence.com/)